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SEATTLE, WA — On Thursday the U.S. Department of Justice broke its ten-month silence on voter-enacted legal pot laws in Colorado and Washington State, saying the feds are going to allow the laws to move forward under the assumption that the systems they create will be well-regulated and tightly-controlled.

Washington state officials roundly applauded the move. “I am very pleased by this outcome,” said Governor Jay Inslee. “The result follows long work and diligent work by our state [liquor] control board, and the federal government’s very careful consideration of the ramifications of this initiative.”

The feds laid out eight enforcement priorities related to cannabis, all of which, said Governor Inslee, are primary concerns of state regulators and will be adequately addressed in Washington’s new legal pot industry. “We’re pleased to say that the federal government’s track is the same as ours in that regard.”

The state’s top lawyer was similarly celebratory. “Today’s news is obviously a great development for the state of Washington in upholding the will of the voters as expressed through our initiative process,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “I think it also affirms the very thoughtful and deliberative approach we’ve taken here in Washington State to achieve that goal.”

The two U.S. Attorneys in the state issued similar press statements that reiterated the federal enforcement guidance, but cautioned that the unregulated medical pot shops that have flourished in the state since 2010 are a legitimate target for their offices. “The continued operation and proliferation of unregulated, for-profit entities outside of the state’s regulatory and licensing scheme is not tenable and violates both state and federal law,” said both U.S. Attorneys Jenny Durkan and Michael Ormsby.

Subtly illustrating the east-west divide in Washington State politics, the Seattle-based Durken said, “This is an important moment for Washington,” while the Spokane-based Ormsby sternly reminded people to not bring pot into federal buildings.

The state’s cannabis regulator thanked the feds for finally providing clear guidance to the agency. “The Board is confident that Washington’s recreational marijuana system will meet most, if not all, of the federal government’s stated concerns,” said an agency statement. “With the federal government’s approval the Board will continue to move forward and implement I-502 and carry out the will of Washington State voters.”

In Seattle, where a whopping 75% of voters approved legal pot, officials were even more excited. “I applaud US Attorney-General Holder’s announcement that he will not interfere with the will of Washington voters,” said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. “Seattle public safety officials, residents and entrepreneurs can now proceed with confidence that the will of the voters has prevailed in Washington.”

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